IP Library Granted Patent US 8,728,883
Granted Patent B2
US 8,728,883 · App. 13/297,474 · Granted May 20, 2014

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device

Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki (Setagaya, JP); Masahiro Takahashi (Atsugi, JP); Tetsunori Maruyama (Atsugi, JE)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,728,883
App. No.
13/297,474
Granted
May 20, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A highly reliable semiconductor device is manufactured by giving stable electric characteristics to a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film is used for a channel. An oxide semiconductor film which can have a first crystal structure by heat treatment and an oxide semiconductor film which can have a second crystal structure by heat treatment are formed so as to be stacked, and then heat treatment is performed; accordingly, crystal growth occurs with the use of an oxide semiconductor film having the second crystal structure as a seed, so that an oxide semiconductor film having the first crystal structure is formed. An oxide semiconductor film formed in this manner is used for an active layer of the transistor.

Claims (80)

1. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate having an electrically insulating top surface;

forming a first oxide semiconductor film over the substrate in a first atmosphere;

forming a second oxide semiconductor film on and in contact with the first oxide semiconductor film in a second atmosphere having a higher concentration in nitrogen than the first atmosphere;

forming a third oxide semiconductor film on and in contact with the second oxide semiconductor film;

performing heat treatment to the first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film so that the first oxide semiconductor film is crystallized in a first crystal structure and the second oxide semiconductor film is crystallized in a second crystal structure different from the first crystal structure,

wherein a concentration in nitrogen of the second oxide semiconductor film is higher than a concentration in nitrogen of the first oxide semiconductor film.

2. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

performing an additional heat treatment on the third oxide semiconductor film so that the third oxide semiconductor film is crystallized in a third crystal structure,

wherein the concentration in nitrogen of the second oxide semiconductor film is higher than a concentration in nitrogen of the third oxide semiconductor film.

3. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film has a trigonal or hexagonal structure film.

4. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film are non-single-crystals and comprise an amorphous region and a crystal region having c-axis alignment.

5. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film comprises zinc, indium, or gallium.

6. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second oxide semiconductor film is a zinc oxide or an oxynitride semiconductor.

7. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film are formed successively by a sputtering method; and

wherein nitrogen is introduced in a formation chamber to form the second oxide semiconductor film after that the first oxide semiconductor film has been formed.

8. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate having an electrically insulating top surface;

forming a first oxide semiconductor film over the substrate in a first atmosphere;

forming a second oxide semiconductor film on and in contact with the first oxide semiconductor film in a second atmosphere having a higher concentration in nitrogen than the first atmosphere;

performing heat treatment to the first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film so that the first oxide semiconductor film is crystallized in a first crystal structure and the second oxide semiconductor film is crystallized in a second crystal structure different from the first crystal structure,

forming a third oxide semiconductor film on and in contact with the second oxide semiconductor film; and

performing an additional heat treatment on the third oxide semiconductor film so that the third oxide semiconductor film is crystallized in a third crystal structure,

wherein a concentration in nitrogen of the second oxide semiconductor film is higher than a concentration in nitrogen of the first oxide semiconductor film, and

wherein the concentration in nitrogen of the second oxide semiconductor film is higher than a concentration in nitrogen of the third oxide semiconductor film.

9. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film has a trigonal or hexagonal structure film.

10. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film are non-single-crystals and comprise an amorphous region and a crystal region having c-axis alignment.

11. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film comprises zinc, indium, or gallium.

12. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the second oxide semiconductor film is a zinc oxide or an oxynitride semiconductor.

13. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film are formed successively by a sputtering method; and

wherein nitrogen is introduced in a formation chamber to form the second oxide semiconductor film after that the first oxide semiconductor film has been formed.

14. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first insulating film;

a second insulating film overlapping with the first insulating film;

a stack of semiconductor films interposed between the first insulating film and the second insulating film, the stack of semiconductor films comprising:

a first oxide semiconductor film;

a second oxide semiconductor film on and in contact with the first oxide semiconductor film; and

a third oxide semiconductor film on and in contact with the second oxide semiconductor film and interposed between the second oxide semiconductor film and the second insulating film; and

an electrically conducting film overlapping with the stack of semiconductor films with the second insulating film interposed therebetween,

wherein a concentration in nitrogen of the second oxide semiconductor film is higher than a concentration in nitrogen of the first oxide semiconductor film.

15. A semiconductor device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the concentration in nitrogen of the second oxide semiconductor film is higher than a concentration in nitrogen of the third oxide semiconductor film.

16. A semiconductor device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film has a trigonal or hexagonal structure film.

17. A semiconductor device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film are non-single-crystals and comprise an amorphous region and a crystal region having c-axis alignment.

18. A semiconductor device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film comprises zinc, indium, or gallium.

19. A semiconductor device according to claim 14 ,

wherein the second oxide semiconductor film is a zinc oxide or an oxynitride semiconductor.

20. An electronic device including the semiconductor device according to claim 14 .

21. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first insulating film;

a second insulating film overlapping with the first insulating film;

a stack of semiconductor films interposed between the first insulating film and the second insulating film, the stack of semiconductor films comprising:

a first oxide semiconductor film;

a second oxide semiconductor film in contact with the first oxide semiconductor film and interposed between the first oxide semiconductor film and the second insulating film; and

a third oxide semiconductor film interposed between the second oxide semiconductor film and the second insulating film, and

an electrically conducting film overlapping with the stack of semiconductor films with the second insulating film interposed therebetween,

wherein a concentration in nitrogen of the second oxide semiconductor film is higher than a concentration in nitrogen of the first oxide semiconductor film, and

wherein the concentration in nitrogen of the second oxide semiconductor film is higher than a concentration in nitrogen of the third oxide semiconductor film.

22. A semiconductor device according to claim 21 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film has a trigonal or hexagonal structure film.

23. A semiconductor device according to claim 21 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film are non-single-crystals and comprise an amorphous region and a crystal region having c-axis alignment.

24. A semiconductor device according to claim 21 ,

wherein the first oxide semiconductor film comprises zinc, indium, or gallium.

25. A semiconductor device according to claim 21 ,

wherein the second oxide semiconductor film is a zinc oxide or an oxynitride semiconductor.

26. An electronic device including the semiconductor device according to claim 21 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2011
From: YAMAZAKI, SHUNPEI; TAKAHASHI, MASAHIRO; MARUYAMA, TETSUNORI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027236/0649 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2010-267896 · Nov 30, 2010 · national
JP 2010-267901 · Nov 30, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120132903A1 · May 31, 2012